Elevator grapple



Patented July 7, 1953 ELEVATOR GRAPPLE George E. Failing, Enid, Okla,assignor to George E. Failing Supply Company, Enid, Okla., a.corporationof Oklahoma Applicationseptem'ber 10, 1949, Serial No.115,026 .5 Claims. (01. 294-86) This invention relates to elevators suchas is used for handling pipe, casing and the like incidental to drillingand easing of bore holes. The principal object being to provide anelevator of this type that is adapted for various sizes of pipe orcasing.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an elevator that is easilyoperated, positive in action and which has its grip enhanced by weightof the pipe or casing engaged thereby. A further object of the inventionis to provide an elevator with flexibly connected jaws so that they areself aligning with respect to the pipe.

In accomplishing these and'other'objects of the invention that ishereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure thepreferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator con structed in accordancewith the present invention, the jaws being shown in open position forgripping a pipe or casing.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the jaws in grippingengagement with a pipe or casing.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the elevator showing the jews gripping a pipeor casing of smallerdiameter.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section .on the line -4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the jaws showing thehook-like seats for engaging the toggle head of the adjusting chain.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates an elevator constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and which includes a plurality of jaw members 2 and 3 that arecarried by bails 4 and 5 that are adapted to suspend the jaw membersfrom the ho-okof a traveling block or the like when running in orpulling the pipe or casing. Each jaw member includes a substantiallysemi-circular body .6 having angularly diverging faces 1 and 8 to engagespaced points on opposite sides of the pipe or casing. The jaws areprovided at'the juncture of the faces 7 and 8 with longitudinal grooves9 to provide clearance and the faces .have transverse recesses 10 toprovide upper and lower flanges II and I2. The upper flange portions Hare relatively wider and are provided with transversely arranged groovesI3 for receiving dies ['4 having teeth I5 to engage the sides of thepipe.

Extending laterally from the outer side of each jaw member is an arm I6having outwardly opening horizontal slots ll intersecting vertical slotsl8 for receiving and .seats 19 for the cross bar portions 20 of thebails 4 and 5 whereby the jaw members are adapted to .be freely movableon the bails. The bails are retained in the portions I8 of the slots bygate pins 2| that areinserted' through openings 22 and have their lowerends engaged in recesses .23 as shown in Fig. .1,

the pins being retained for example, by threading the heads thereof intothe openings 22.

The exterior side of the jaw member :2 has 1 a channel-like groove 24that extends therearound from the 'face 1 tothe intersect with the face8 and provide upper and lower flanges 2.5 and 26 that register with theflanges II and [2 .on the face sides of the jaws. Formed in the sidewall 2'! of the groove24 is a narrower groove or way 28 located belowthe mid point :of the heighth of the jaw member whereby the center ofgravity of the jaw member is above the upper portion or above the way.The way 28 is ofirectangular cross section and has a circular face 29and upper and lower faces .30 and 3|, Extendin through the way is aflexible connector 33 for the jaw members as later described. The way 28continues through the arm of the jaw member 2 by way of an opening 32 asshown in Fig. 2. The outer face of the other jaw member is provided withrecesses 34 and 35 on the respective sides of the arm l6 thereof toaccommodate the ends :of the member 33.. nects through a slot 36 havinga narrow portion 31 formed in the end 38 of the .recess 34 on therespective sides .of the constricted portion 31 of the slot 36 areconcave seats 39 and 40. The op. posite recess 35 has the corresponding.end 4! shaped .to provide spaced apart upper and lower hooks 42 and 43.

- The member 33 preferably comprises a chain composed of a series oflinks .44 interconnected by transverse pins 45. The pins extendtransversely through the links and have projecting ends 46 and 41 thatengage the hooks 42 and .43 as best shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end ofthe chain carries a toggle bolt .48 having .a'threaded shank 49 that isadapted to be engaged in the slot '36'and which has a head 5'0 slidablymount ed thereon and secured in position by a nut "51 that bears againsta flat side of the head as shown in Fig. 1. rounded as at 52 to conformwith the seats 39 and 40 of the jaw member previously described. Inassembling the. chain 33 relatively to the jaw members 2 and 3 the endopposite the toggle bolt 48 is threaded throughthe opening 32 ofthe jawmember 2 and one of the end links "is The recess .34 -con- The oppositeside of the head 50 is.

42 and 43' and re-engaging the chain at one of the other links so thatwhen the jaws are engaged with the side of the pipe they are retained insubstantially close contact therewith. The chain is tightened about jawsto bring the jaws into gripping contact with the pipe or casing byadjusting the nut 5i on the shank 49 of the toggle bolt 48.

When inserting casing in a bore hole two of the elevators are used, oneserving as an elevator and the other as a spider. The bails '4 and'5 ofone of the elevators being engaged with the hook of the traveling block(not shown) so that the elevator is connected therewith.

To grip a joint of well casing, the head 50 of that elevator isdisengaged from the seats 39 and 40, to free that end of the chain sothat the jaw members can be moved apart to pass them into engagementwith the respective sides of a joint of casing with the dies M on thediverging faces contacting spaced points on opposite diametri'cal sides.The head on the toggle bolt is then re-enga'ged with the jaw 3 and thenut BI is tightened. When the elevator is lifted, the

jaws are held together by the chain, and the gripping action of the jawsis supplemented since thejaws may rock on the chain by reason of thelever action of the arms [6. The dies thus firmly grip the joint ofeasing as the traveling block moves toward the top of the derrick. Whenthe casing is suspended over the bore hole it is lowered thereinto untilthe elevator seats upon a support provided over the bore hole. Thetraveling block hook is then released from the bails and the travelingblock is moved to connect with the bailsof the second elevator which hasbeen applied to a second joint of casing to raise and lower the jointinto coupling relation with the joint in the bore hole. After thecoupling of the joints is completed the first elevator is removed andthe coupled casings are lowered until the second'elevator is in positionto engage the sup{ port. The first elevator is then used for handling asucceeding joint and the operations are continued to complete the casingof the borehole. Theelevators might also be used for handling stands ofdrill pipe and lowering the drill pipe when it is run into the well. Theelevators are used to withdraw the casing or drill pipefrom the borehole by reversing the operations.

when smaller or larger pipe or casing is used, the elevator is readilyadapted by adjustment of the chain 33. I V j From the foregoing, it isobvious, that'I have provided an elevator of simple and inexpensiveconstruction and which is adapted for handling various size pipe orcasing in an expedious and safe mannerf 7 What I claim and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is: v

1. An elevator including jaw members having opposed gripping faces forengaging opposite sides of a member to be axially supported by the ele:vator when the elevator isin use, arms D QJfectfonone side or the otherjaw member with the hooks being located with one hook above and theother below said way, said other jaw member having a slot on theopposite side in registry with said way and intersecting ashoulder ofsaid other law member, a chain in said way having projections onopposite sides thereof for engagement with said hooks when a portion ofone end of the chain is placed between said hooks, a toggle on the otherend of said chain and having a shank portion extending through saidslot, and a member on said shank portion of the toggle engaging LII saidshoulder for retaining the jaws in contact with the member to be lifted.

2. An elevator including jaw members having opposed gripping faces forengaging opposite sides of a member to be axially supported bythe ele-evator when the elevator is in use, arms project.- ing from the jaws onsides thereof opposite said gripping faces, bails having transverseportions connected with the arms and formingpivotal supports on'whichthe jaw members rock into contact with said member to be lifted, one ofsaid jaws having a way for passage of a chain around the arm side ofsaid jaw member, hooks on one side of theother jaw member with the hooksbeing located withone hook above and the other below said way, saidother jaw member having a slot on the opposite side in registry withsaid way and intersecting a shoulder of said other jaw member, a chaininsaidway having links and pins connecting the links, said pinshaving'projecting ends on opposite sides of the chain for engagementwith said hooks when a portion of one end of the chain is placed-between said hooks, a toggle on the other end'of said chain'iandfa shankportion removably engageable in said slot, and a member on said shankportion of the toggle engaging said shoulder for retaining the jawsincontact-with the'member to be lifted. "1-, 3. Anelevator-including'jaw members having opposed gripping faces forengaging opposite.

sides of a member to be axially supported by'the elevator when thelevator is in use, arms projecting from the jawson sidesthereofoppos'i'te said gripping faces, bails having transverse por tionsconnected with said arms and forming pivotal supports above centers ofgravity of the jaw -members and on which the jaw members rock intocontact with said member to be lifted, on of said jaws having a way forpassage of chain around the arm side of said jaw memberbelow the'centersof gravity of the jaw members, hooks onone side of the other jaw memberwith the hooks being located with one'hook'above' and the otherbelowsaid way, "said other jaw member having. a slot onthe'opposite side "inregistry with said wayand'intersectin'g. a shoulider of said other jawmember, achain in said wayhaving links andlpins connecting the linkssaid pins I having projecting ends on opposite sides of the chain forengagement with said'hook's when a portion of oneend of the chain isplaced betweensaid hooks, a toggle on the other end of said chain andhaving "ashank portion remov ably engageable in said slot, and a memberon (2 for retaining the jaws in contact with the member to be lifted.

4. An elevator including opposed jaw members having gripping face forengaging respective opposite sides of a member to be elevated, one ofsaid jaw members having a transverse way extending therethrough and theother jaw member having chain attaching means on respective sidesthereof, a chain extending freely through the way of said one jaw memberand having ends engaged With the connecting means of the other jawmember for retaining the. jaw members in contact with the member to beelevated, arms projecting from the jaw members on sides thereof oppositesaid gripping faces, and bails having transverse portions connected withsaid arms.

5. An elevator including opposed jaw members having upper and lowerportions for engaging the respective opposite sides of a member to beelevated, said jaw members having means below the center of gravity ofthe jaw members for connecting a flexible member, a flexible meansengaging said connecting means of the jaw mem= References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 827,079 ClarkJuly 31, 1906 909,909 Keller Jan. 19, 1909 953,234 Rountree Mar. 29,1910 1,204,374 Benson Nov. 14, 1916 1,967,517 Rogers July 24, 1934

